HoPiKo for Android has a weird name, but unique style. It’s an intense speed run platformer where you’re constantly racing across the clock to beat it before it runs out. You’ll have to jump from one platform to the next in order to avoid death, and there are hundreds of levels to play through.

I first heard about this game when the developer went to Reddit to announce that he’d made a free version of the game because they had experienced a 90% piracy rate. Piracy is hard to track, but while I’m sure the number is lower, it can’t be drastically lower. So the question is: does this game check all your requirements to make it worth the $2 investment?

I vote yes. I’ve never played another game that has had the same look, feel, and mechanics of a game like this. The controls are all gesture based since you’ll be tapping, holding, and swiping in order to aim your character. Action is fast-paced, though sometimes a bit too fast-paced, and the overall design and presentation of the app is incredibly rich.

Gameplay is challenging but rewarding. You’ll play through levels in groups of five, and they become more difficult as time goes on. You always know where you need to go, the only issue is can you get there fast enough. The game encourages you to take shortcuts and fail a bit so you can explore alternate solutions and get better times.

Initially, I was skeptical going into HoPiKo simply because of the Reddit post I had read beforehand. But I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. It’s clear the developer set out to do something totally unique and they succeeded. If we want more games that are different then it doesn’t hurt to support them with a few dollars here and there. Besides, this one is worth it.